Startled horse runs amok inside Bassett bicycle store

BASSETT - A horse walked into a bicycle shop Sunday, but what happened next was no joke.

About 45 bicycles were damaged when the animal broke free from a nearby equestrian community about 10:30 a.m. and ran amok inside Reyes Bicycle Shop, 13054 Valley Blvd., according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials and the shop owner's son.

The horse suffered cuts and ultimately became trapped in bicycles, said the shopkeeper's 14-year-old son, Jose Ruben Reyes.

"There's a gang of damage on the bikes, but nobody got really hurt," Reyes said.

After the female horse made it's way into the store, "It started hitting all the bikes and started getting stuck," he said. "I was scared. I was panicking."

Two of three customers inside the store fled out the back door upon seeing the horse, while a third sought refuge in the bathroom, Reyes said.

The horse soon became entangled in bicycles.

"It got so scared," Reyes said. The animal thrashed it's way free of the bikes and exited the store on it's own.

The incident lasted about a minute, Reyes added.

Deputies and animal control officials responded to the scene and helped with the situation, sheriff's Sgt. John Suh said.

The horse owner and shopkeeper met to discuss payment for the damage, Suh said.

The horse had numerous cuts it suffered while rampaging through the bike store, however the owner retrieved it and told Reyes it would likely be okay, he said.

Following an extensive clean-up effort Sunday, Reyes said the bicycle shop was expected to back to business as usual Monday.